Carry-on stroller case

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose suitcase dimensioned and configured to be allowed into a passenger airplane as carry-on luggage. The suitcase includes a base compartment and a movable upper compartment. The suitcase can be quickly reconfigured to form a seat on which a child can be seated. A harness secures the child in the seat. The invention permits a parent to transport an infant or toddler easily through a busy airport, together with luggage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/058,577, filed Sep. 11, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wheeled luggage, and more particularlyto a wheeled suitcase with a compartment that is slidable or movable, tocreate a seat suitable for an infant or toddler.

2. Description of Related Art

Various wheeled luggage devices have been developed in the past.Typically, a suitcase is configured with a pair of wheels. The wheelspermit the user to more easily transport the suitcase as the suitcase isrolled on its wheels. However, only smaller sized suitcases may becarried on board an airplane. Hence, carry-on suitcases must bedimensioned and configured to fit under the seats or into the overheadstorage compartments of passenger airplanes.

Similarly, baby strollers are configured with wheels to more easilytransport a child. Many such baby strollers are collapsible, when not inuse, for compact storage. Most baby strollers are too long to fit undera seat or into an overhead bin, even when folded. It is the usualpractice of many airlines not to permit baby strollers to be carriedinto the airplane as carry-on luggage. The baby stroller must thereforebe checked at the gate, if not sooner.

A typical scenario for a busy traveller would be for one parent to berushing through a typical airport (e.g., Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth,Atlanta, O'Hare, etc.) with at least one infant. Frequently the parentwill be rushing to make a connecting flight. The infant is either tooyoung or too tired to walk quickly through the airport. The parent wouldmost likely carry the child (since the stroller has been taken away bythe airline), along with a diaper bag, overnight bag, briefcase,computer case, and the like. This juggling act is difficult at best, andimpossible at worst.

An ordinary wheeled carry-on suitcase typically has a length of about 22inches. A tired toddler can be perched on top of such a wheeled suitcaseand wheeled along through an airport. However, this approach has severaldisadvantages. The child has nothing conveniently located to hang ontoor to hold him in place. The child can easily fall off and be injured.The child has nothing to lean against except the handle of the suitcase,which can be uncomfortable. Since the suitcase itself is not meant to besat on, it is generally uncomfortable and may also be slippery. A childtoo young to sit up alone or hold on by himself cannot be perched on thesuitcase at all.

From the adult's point of view, the child's weight placed on top of a 22inch suitcase alters the center of gravity of the wheeled suitcase. Thechild's weight is largely supported by the adult's arm. The arm quicklytires out and becomes painful. The high center of gravity also makes thewheeled suitcase unstable, so that it is likely to tip over to the side,especially when turning corners.

Accordingly, a need will be seen for a suitcase that is sized to bebrought into an airplane as carry-on luggage and can be reconfigured asa baby stroller. Related prior art patents will now be discussed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,954 issued to Nordstrom on May 14, 1996 describes amobile carry-on suitcase. The suitcase has an extendable handle that ismovable between extended and retracted positions, and wheels. Thesuitcase is tilted for transport on the wheels and it is manipulated bythe handle. This device cannot safely transport a child through a busyairport.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,450 issued to Mahvi et al. on Jul. 27, 1993describes an infant care bag. The bag may store bottles, diapers andother infant care items. The device comprises a primary bag section anda removable auxiliary bag section. The primary bag section may be wornas a backpack and it can be used as a booster seat. No wheeled transportmechanism is disclosed and this device has no safety measures totransport a child safely through a busy airport.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,048 issued to Crisp et al. on Mar. 1, 1994 describesa typical stroller device. The device is collapsible for compactstorage. The device may include detachable bags. Such a stroller devicewould not be permitted on board a passenger airplane as carry-onluggage.

None of the above noted inventions and patents, taken either singly orin combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a multipurpose suitcase that is dimensioned andconfigured to be allowed into a passenger airplane as carry-on luggage.The suitcase can be quickly reconfigured to form a seat on which a childcan be seated. A seat belt or safety harness will secure the child inthe seat. The present invention will permit a parent to transport achild through a busy airport.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a wheeled carry-on suitcase which can quickly be reconfigured totransport a child safely through a busy airport.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a wheeledcarry-on suitcase which includes a seat belt or harness that will securethe child in the configured seat.

Yet another of the objects of the present invention is to provide awheeled carry-on suitcase which is light-weight.

Still another of the objects of the present invention is to provide awheeled carry-on suitcase which is economical to produce.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more readilyapparent as the nature of the invention is hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated and claimed with reference being made to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carry-on wheeled suitcase that isconfigured in the seat position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carry-on wheeled suitcase of FIG. 1that is configured in the compact position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carry-on wheeled suitcase of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the wheeledsuitcase.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the carry-onwheeled suitcase configured in the compact position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the carry-on wheeled suitcase ofFIG. 5 that is in the process of being configured to the seat position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the carry-on wheeled suitcase ofFIG. 6 in the seat position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the wheeledsuitcase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a multipurpose suitcase that is configured anddimensioned to be allowed into a passenger airplane as carry-on luggage.The suitcase can be quickly reconfigured to form a seat on which a childcan be seated. A seat belt or harness will secure the child in the seat.The present invention will permit a parent to transport a child througha busy airport.

Preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the present inventionwill now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Byway of illustration and not limitation, FIGS. 1 to 8 are presented toshow the preferred embodiments of the applicant's invention.

FIGS. 1-3 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows asecond embodiment which is a modification of the first embodiment. FIGS.5-7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows afourth embodiment which is similar to the third embodiment.

The multipurpose wheeled suitcase 2 includes a base compartment 10 andan upper compartment 20. Each of the compartments is substantiallybox-shaped. The base compartment 10 has a front face 10A, a rear face10B, an upper face 10C, a lower face 10D and two side faces 10E. Theupper compartment 20 includes a front face 20A, a rear face 20B, anupper face 20C, a lower face 20D, and two side faces 20E.

The compartments 10 and 20 are composed of standard luggage materials.The faces of the compartments may be flexible, as in standard soft-sidedluggage, or rigid. The faces may or may not have an underlying rigidframework. A rigid frame for the compartments is useful in providingsupport to the seat. A rigid frame may not be necessary, however, if thecompartments are tightly packed or if some sagging under the child'sweight is acceptable.

The upper compartment 20 is preferably configured as a diaper bag andincludes pockets for diapers, bottles, wet or dry clothing, a changingpad, and the like. The base compartment 10 is preferably configured asan overnight bag for an adult and includes space for clothes, shoes, alaptop computer, and the like. With the one wheeled suitcase 2 an adultand a child can go on an overnight trip without checking any bags atall. For a longer trip the same adult and child can keep enough withthem to easily manage an overnight stay, even if the remainder of theirluggage is lost or delayed.

The upper compartment 20 of the first and second embodiments slideshorizontally between a compact position and a seat position, as shown inFIGS. 1-4. In the compact position the lower face 20D of the uppercompartment 20 is substantially adjacent to and rests generally on theupper face 10C of the base compartment 10. In the seat position at leasta portion of the upper face 10C of the base compartment is exposed. Theexposed portion forms a seat adapted to seating a child. Preferably allor nearly all of the upper face 10C of the base compartment forms theseat. The seat may be contoured and/or padded for the child's comfort.The surface of the seat preferably is composed of a non-slipperymaterial, such as fabric, foam, or textured plastic, so that the childdoes not slide around on the seat. In the seat position the child leansagainst the front face 20A of the upper compartment 20, so that his backis supported.

If desired, the upper compartment 20 may detach from the rest of thewheeled suitcase 2. This allows the upper compartment to be usedseparately as a diaper bag on arrival at a destination.

A handle 52 is attached to the rear face 10B of the base compartment 10.The upper compartment 20 may be attached to either the handle 52 or tothe base compartment 10. The attachment may or may not be releasable. Avariety of securing mechanisms 53 can lock the upper compartment 20 ineither the compact position or the seat position. Various structures,such as adhesive strips, hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO) fasteners, snaps,parachute clips, etc., may be used to secure the upper compartment 20.For example, hook and loop fastener may be used to secure the rear face20B of the upper compartment to the handle 52, as shown in FIG. 4.

The handle 52 is a standard telescoping handle used for wheeled luggage.The handle 52 is generally U-shaped and has a cross bar 61, twotelescoping tubes 59, and two slide tubes 54. Each of the telescopingtubes 59 mates with and slides in and out of one of the slide tubes 54.Each of the telescoping tubes 59 may telescope twice if desired. Thecross bar 61 may include a gripping member. The handle 52 telescopesfrom a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, to an extendedposition, as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8. The handle 52 preferablyincludes a latch to lock the handle into either the retracted orextended positions. The handle 52 in the extended position is adapted tomoving the wheeled suitcase, preferably by pulling.

Preferably in the first and second embodiments two fabric flaps 22attach the upper compartment 20 to the handle 52, as shown in FIGS. 1-4.A first end of each fabric flap 22 is attached to one of the side faces20E of the upper compartment, approximately midway between the front andrear faces of the upper compartment. A second end of each fabric flap 22is attached to one of the slide tubes 54 of the handle 52. Each of theends of the fabric flaps extends generally parallel to the handle 52.This arrangement allows the upper compartment 20 to horizontally slidealong the upper face 10C of the lower compartment 10. Changing from thecompact position to the seat position and back is rapid and easy.

Each fabric flap is preferably generally rectangular and has a lengthand a width. The length of each fabric flap extends parallel to thehandle and is preferably 2/3 or more of the length of the uppercompartment. If the length is too short, the upper compartment may havea tendency to twist in the seat position. The width of the fabric flapis preferably about 1/2 of the thickness of the upper compartment. Thiswidth allows the upper compartment to slide so that the seat is exposed,but keeps the upper compartment close enough to the seat to act as aback support.

Instead of a single fabric flap 22, two or more flaps or straps may beused on each side of the upper compartment. However, a single fabricflap is easier to attach and detach, and also forms a more stable backsupport. A single flap also provides fewer opportunities for objects(such as toys) to fall through.

If desired, a third fabric flap may attach the lower face 20D of theupper compartment to the upper face 10C of the base compartment. Thisprovides additional stability to the seat.

The fabric flaps 22 may be permanently or releasably attached. Thefabric flaps 22 may be attached with stitching, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Amore complex alternative would be to provide a roller system which wouldautomatically roll and unroll the fabric flap. Most preferably each ofthe fabric flaps 22 releasably attaches to one of the side faces 20E ofthe upper compartment with a zipper 57, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the upper compartment 20 is slid toward and through the handle 52,a substantial portion of the upper face 10C of the base compartment 10is exposed. The upper face 10C of the base compartment then forms a seatfor a child 6, with the back of the child resting against the front face20A of the upper compartment 20.

The wheeled suitcase 2 includes at least two base wheels, 16A and 16B.Each of the base wheels is rotatably attached to the base compartment,substantially near the lower face 10D, the rear face 10B, and one of theside faces 10E of the base compartment. Preferably each base wheel 16Aor 16B is attached to the lower face 10D of the base compartment 10,substantially near to the rear face 10B of the base compartment 10.While being rolled, the wheeled suitcase is supported by the base wheels16A and 16B. The base wheels must be sufficiently sturdy to support theweight of the packed wheeled suitcase and the additional weight of thechild. Suitable wheels are available for conventional wheeled luggage.

The wheeled suitcase 2 may include one or more rest pads 12. Preferablytwo rest pads 12 are attached to the lower face 10D of the basecompartment 10, substantially near the front face 10A of the basecompartment 10. Each rest pad 12 is located substantially near one ofthe side faces 10E of the base compartment. Preferably the length ofeach rest pad 12 approximately corresponds to the clearance of the basewheels 16A and 16B. When upright, the wheeled suitcase is then supportedin a stable rest position by the base wheels 16A and 16B and the restpads 12.

Preferably the wheeled suitcase 2 has only two wheels. This reduces thecomplexity and makes handling easier in tight quarters such as airplaneaisles and overhead bins. Having only two wheels also decreasesmanufacturing costs and makes the wheeled suitcase lighter in weight.

If an additional set of wheels is desired, the wheeled suitcase 2 mayinclude a retractable wheel assembly 63. The wheel assembly 63 includestwo retractable wheels 18, an axle 65, and at least two wheel supports67. The wheel assembly 63 may have two wheel supports 67, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, or four wheel supports 67, as shown in FIG. 4. Each ofthe wheel supports 67 is pivotally attached at one end to the rear faceof the base compartment. The other end is attached to one of theretractable wheels 18. The wheel supports 67 have a retracted positionand an extended position. In the retracted position the wheel supports67 preferably slide substantially into the handle 52. If only two wheelsupports 67 are used, the retractable wheels may simply swing up or downas needed. If four wheel supports 67 are used, the wheel supports may bepivotally connected at both ends to enable the wheel supports to slideinto the handle 52.

The wheel assembly 63 preferably includes a latch to lock theretractable wheels in the extended or retracted positions. With theretractable wheels 18 extended, the wheeled suitcase 2 can be moved likea push cart or a conventional stroller, on four wheels. This is easierto handle in some situations than the two-wheeled version, and alsoallows the child to face forward.

The wheeled suitcase 2 may have two side compartments 30. Each of theside compartments 30 is adjacent to one of the side faces 20E of theupper compartment 20 in the compact position. In the seat position, theside compartments 30 are adjacent to the seat. The side compartments 30are adapted to prevent the child in the seat from sliding sideways andgive the child a greater feeling of security. The side compartments 30also help to stabilize the upper compartment 20 in the compact positionagainst sideways motion.

The side compartments may be rectangular, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or theymay be contoured in an armrest shape. The side compartments may be asimple triangular piece of flexible material attached to the upper faceof the base compartment and to the handle. The side compartments 30 maybe adapted to hold thin or small objects, such as file folders ormedications. The side compartments may be rigid or may be of flexiblematerial over a rigid framework. The side compartments 30 may bedetachably attached, for example to the upper face 10C of the basecompartment 10.

A harness 55 may be included in the wheeled suitcase 2 to retain thechild 6 in the seat, as shown in FIG. 7. The harness 55 allows childrentoo young to hold on or to sit up alone to be carried on the seat. Theharness 55 may be a simple seat belt, or a 3-point or a 5-point harness.The harness 55 may attach to the upper face 10C of the base compartment,to the front face 20A of the upper compartment, to the handle 52, to theside compartments 30, or to any combination of these. For example, a3-point harness might have one point attaching to the upper face 10C ofthe base compartment, with the other two points attaching to the frontface 20A of the upper compartment.

In the compact position with the handle 52 retracted, the wheeledsuitcase 2 is preferably small enough to fit under an airplane seat.Airlines typically allow a maximum size of 22×8×14 inches for carry-onluggage. Dimensions of 22×8×14 inches for the wheeled suitcase 2 aretherefore preferred, but somewhat smaller dimensions are acceptable. Awidth of 14 inches or less allows the wheeled suitcase to fit easilydown an airplane aisle.

The sliding upper compartment 20 lets the child sit 8 or more inchesbelow where he would be if he simply perched on top of a wheeledsuitcase. The center of gravity is significantly lowered and betterbalanced over the wheels. This reduces the strain on the arm of an adultpulling the suitcase. The wheeled suitcase is comfortable to pull. Thelower center of gravity also makes the wheeled suitcase more stable.

If the upper compartment 20 is detachable, the size of the uppercompartment 20, the lower compartment 10, or both may be increased ifdesired. The upper compartment 20 and the remainder of the unit wouldthen fit as two separate pieces of carry-on luggage under a seat or intoan overhead storage bin.

A third embodiment of the multipurpose wheeled suitcase is shown inFIGS. 5-7. The third embodiment of the wheeled suitcase 2 includes abase compartment 10 and an upper compartment 20, similar to those of thefirst embodiment. Instead of the upper compartment 20 sliding backwardto expose the seat, the upper compartment moves horizontally andvertically between the compact position and the seat position. The uppercompartment 20 moves forward and down from the compact position to forma footrest.

In the third and fourth embodiments the seat position the uppercompartment 20 is substantially adjacent to the front face 10A of thebase compartment. Depending on the exact configuration of the wheeledsuitcase, various faces of the upper compartment 20 may be adjacent tothe base compartment 10 in the seat position. The upper face 10C of thebase compartment forms a seat in the seat position. The seat may or maynot be covered by a fabric sheet 66 attaching the compartments together.The wheeled suitcase 2 may or may not include a backrest 60. The thirdand fourth embodiments may include a wheel assembly, side compartments,and the like, just as for the first two embodiments.

The wheeled suitcase 2 of the third embodiment includes a fabric sheet66, diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 5-7. The fabric sheet 66 attachesthe upper compartment 20 to the rest of the wheeled suitcase 2.Preferably the fabric sheet 66 attaches the upper compartment 20 to thebase compartment 10.

The fabric sheet 66 is long enough for the upper compartment 20 to hangin an appropriate position in front of the base compartment 10 to serveas a footrest. The fabric sheet 66 has two ends, which extend generallyperpendicular to the planes of the side faces 20E. One end is attachedto the upper compartment 20. The other end may be attached to the handle52, to the backrest 60, or to the front, upper, or rear faces of thebase compartment 10.

Using the upper compartment 20 to form a footrest, instead of a backsupport, has several advantages. The center of gravity is even lowerthan in the first two embodiments. The weight of the compartments andthe child is evenly distributed over the wheels, so that the wheeledsuitcase is stable and easy to pull.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the compact position the lower face 20D of theupper compartment 20 rests substantially on the upper face 10C of thebase compartment 10. The fabric sheet 66 is sandwiched in-between. Thefabric sheet 66 may wrap around the upper compartment 20 in the compactposition, as shown in FIG. 5, or may be rolled or folded in a variety ofways. The fabric sheet 66 may wrap around two or more faces of the uppercompartment 20 in the compact position. In FIG. 5 the fabric sheet 66 isshown wrapping three faces of the upper compartment.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper compartment 20 is rolled down along thefront face 10A of the base compartment 10, partially unwrapping thefabric sheet 66. The upper compartment 20 in the seat position restsagainst the front face 10A of the base compartment 10, substantiallynear the rest pad 12. The upper compartment 20 is at least partiallysuspended from the fabric sheet 66. The upper compartment 20 may besecured to the base compartment 10, after the fabric sheet 66 has beenunfolded, by various structures, such as adhesive strips, hook and loop(e.g., VELCRO) fasteners, snaps, clips, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the seat position a seat is formed by theupper face 10C of the base compartment 10. A portion of the fabric sheet66 covers the seat and acts as a seat cover. In the seat position theupper face 20C of the upper compartment 20 is substantially adjacent tothe front face 10A of the base compartment 10. The front face 20A of theupper compartment 20 forms the footrest.

Since in the third embodiment the upper compartment 20 acts as afootrest instead of supporting the child's back, some sort of backsupport is desirable. Back support adds both to the comfort of the childin the seat and to his safety, since he is less likely to slide outbackwards through the handle.

Back support may be provided by the backrest 60. The backrest 60 isadapted to support the child's back when the upper compartment 20 is inthe seat position. The backrest 60 may also serve to stabilize the uppercompartment 20 in the compact position and prevent it from movingbackward. The backrest 60 may be of rigid plastic or other rigidmaterial. The backrest may also be composed of canvas or other flexiblematerial. If the backrest 60 extends beyond the upper face of the uppercompartment in the compact position, it is preferably foldable orrollable when not in use, as shown in FIGS. 5-7. The backrest 60 in theseat position preferably is sufficiently long to reach the level of thechild's shoulders. The backrest 60 may be as simple as one or two strapsextending between the slide tubes 54 of the handle. The backrest may bepermanently or releasably attached to the handle 52.

Several different configurations are possible for a foldable backrest60. In the compact position the backrest 60 may fold forward so that itlies between the upper and lower compartments. The backrest 60 may alsoslide up and down in a channel between the slide tubes of the handle 52.

In FIG. 5, a foldable backrest 60 is shown folded and stored between theretracted handle 52 and the upper compartment 20. FIG. 6 shows thebackrest 60 almost unfolded. FIG. 7 shows the backrest 60 fully unfoldedand touching the fully extended telescoping handle 52. The backrest 60may be releasably attached to the handle 52 by a securing mechanism 53.The securing mechanism 53 may be a clip, as shown in FIG. 7. Otherpossible securing mechanisms include adhesive strips, hook and loopfasteners, ties, snaps, etc.

The upper compartment 20 of the third embodiment may be detachable, asin the first embodiment. This allows the upper compartment to be usedseparately and/or allows the size of the compartments to increase, whilestill meeting the size limits for carry-on luggage.

A harness 55, such as a seat belt, may be included in the wheeledsuitcase 2 to secure the child 6 in the seat, as in the firstembodiment. The harness 55 may attach to the upper face 10C of the basecompartment, the side compartments 30 (if any), the handle 52, or thebackrest 60. The fabric sheet 66 may have slots, if necessary, to allowthe straps of the harness 55 to pass through it.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the wheeled suitcase. The fourthembodiment includes a fabric sheet 66, as in the third embodiment. Thefabric sheet 66 has a first end 71 and a second end 73. The first end 71of the fabric sheet 66 is attached to the upper compartment 20substantially near the upper face 20C and the rear face 20B of the uppercompartment 20. The second end 73 is attached to the upper face 10C ofthe base compartment 10, approximately mid-way between the front andrear faces 10A and 10B of the base compartment. The first and secondends 71 and 73 of the fabric sheet 66 extend generally perpendicular tothe planes of the side faces 10E and 20E of the compartments.

In the compact position the fabric sheet 66 is wrapped around the rearface 20B of the upper compartment. In the seat position the rear face20B of the upper compartment is substantially adjacent to the front face10A of the base compartment. The upper face 20C of the upper compartmentforms the footrest. The upper compartment 20 in the seat position is atleast partially suspended from the fabric sheet 66.

Moving the upper compartment 20 between the compact position and theseat position is very quick and simple. In the fourth embodiment theorientation of the upper compartment 20 does not change as it movesbetween the compact position and the seat position. This is advantageousbecause the contents of the upper compartment 20 are less likely to bedamaged or disordered by being shaken and turned unnecessarily. Inparticular, if the upper compartment 20 is configured as a diaper bag,it is desirable to avoid turning bottles and the like upside down. Thishelps to prevent leaks.

A large difference in length between the compartments is not requiredfor the footrest of the fourth embodiment. For example, typical lengthsfor the upper and base compartments would be 8 inches and 14 inchesrespectively (for a total of 22 inches). When the upper compartment 20moves forward and down, the seat and footrest differ in height at mostby about 6 inches. This is more than adequate for the purposes of theinvention. While older toddlers may have longer legs than this, theygenerally do not object to having their knees raised for the timerequired to negotiate an airport. Some children enjoy this as a changeof pace from the usual feet-swinging posture when a child sits on a seatsized for adults.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A multipurpose wheeled suitcase, comprising:(a) a base compartment and an upper compartment, each of the compartments having a front face, a rear face, an upper face, a lower face, and two side faces, the upper compartment sliding horizontally between a compact position and a seat position, the lower face of the upper compartment in the compact position being substantially adjacent to the upper face of the base compartment, at least a portion of the upper face of the base compartment being exposed in the seat position and forming a seat, the seat being adapted to seating a child, the front face of the upper compartment in the seat position supporting a back of the child; (b) a handle, the handle being attached to the rear face of the base compartment, the handle including a telescoping tube, and a slide tube, the telescoping tubes mating with the slide tube, so that the handle has a retracted position and an extended position, the handle being adapted to moving the wheeled suitcase; and (c) at least two base wheels, each base wheel being rotatably attached to the base compartment, substantially near the lower face, the rear face, and one of the side faces of the base compartment.
 2. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, further comprising two rest pads, each rest pad being attached to the lower face of the base compartment, substantially near the front face and one of the side faces of the base compartment.
 3. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, further comprising two side compartments, each of the side compartments being adjacent to one of the side faces of the upper compartment in the compact position.
 4. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, wherein each side face of the upper compartment is attached to one of the slide tubes of the handle by a fabric flap.
 5. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 4, wherein each side face of the upper compartment is releasably attached to one of the fabric flaps by a zipper.
 6. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 4, further comprising a harness adapted to retain the child in the seat.
 7. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 4, further comprising a retractable wheel assembly, the wheel assembly having two retractable wheels, an axle, and at least two wheel supports, each of the wheel supports being attached to one of the retractable wheels, each of the wheel supports being pivotally attached to the rear face of the base compartment, so that the wheel supports have a retracted position and an extended position.
 8. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 4, wherein the upper compartment is secured in the compact position by hook and loop fastener. 